As usual, La Gomerie’s 2005 is a sexy, dense plum/purple-tinged effort. From a 7-acre, 32-year old site planted with 100% Merlot, it exhibits a sumptuous bouquet of white chocolate, roasted coffee, blackberries, black cherries, graphite, and toasty oak. This is a modern-styled, decadently rich St.-Emilion, but because of the vintage’s higher acidity and more tannic structure, this offering possesses a more classic framework than usual. A sensational wine, it should be drinkable in 3-4 years, and age beautifully for 15-20.

Dark purple black in color, showing intense aromas of blackberry, licorice and Indian spices. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This offers loads of coffee, milk chocolate, toasty oak and ripe fruit, with wonderful concentration and polish. Best after 2015. 915 cases made. -JS